Integrative Leadership offers readers deep insights into both being leaders and doing leadership. Rick and Lillas offer numerous ways to tap into the leader within each of us...that will allow a future vision full of possibilities..." Barry Z. Posner, Ph.D., Co-author of the International Best Sellers, The Leadership Challenge

"By synthesizing the spiritual and business dimensions of authentic leadership, Integrative Leadership gives you the framework and tools to realize sustainable success." Kevin Cashman, CEO, LeaderSourceBest Selling Author of Leadership from the Inside Out & Awakening the Leader Within "Integrative Leadership offers a path with heart and a wealth of information and insight to awaken the leader within all of us."Diane Dreher. PhD, Author of The Tao of Personal Leadership.

"Integrative Leadership is an important…effort that is written from the heart by a uniquely forward thinking team...written with the intent to both educate and awaken the reader's own greater potential." Dr. Beth HedvaAuthor of Betrayal, Trust and Forgiveness.

"Integrative Leadership has successfully forged a new alloy of ancient and modern ideas and principles and applied them to the phenomenon of leadership development. This work has the potential to shift the entire discussion of leadership, raising it to a new level..." J.B. Woodward Senior Researcher & Facilitator, The Banff Centre, Banff, AB

I. "Integrative Leadership: Building a Foundation..."

When we were first confronted with the complexity and many different definitions, models and approaches to the idea of leadership, we began an intensive three-year study of human, management and leadership development to help unravel the mystery and complexity. The purpose of our study was to search for the foundational model of leadership that we felt stood behind and informed all other models. Three criteria guided our search: The model needed to be simple and resonant; unifying and integrative; and of service and additive.

Our search led us first through the past 100 years of leadership development literature; then through 300 years of scientific research, then through 3,000 years of wisdom and mystic traditions externally while simultaneously deeply reflecting and examining our own 50 years of experience in consciously walking the path of integration internally. Our search resulted in an evolving integrative philosophy, uncovering of what we feel is the foundational model that gives rise to all other life and leadership models; and universal laws, principles and practices that guide and inform the journey of integration.

The Integrative Leadership Study Guide’s purpose is to invite you to the path of integration: to undertake the inner work of becoming an integrative leader in the hope that you may bring a deeper wisdom to your outer world: and ultimately, in the words of Mahatma Gandhi, “to be the change you wish to see in the world.” This guide is a self study companion to the book Integrative Leadership: building a foundation for personal, interpersonal and organizational success (2005), and also it may be used independently. The format is to introduce concepts of Integrative Leadership; the coauthors have a dialogue about the application of those concepts, and then through the use of reflective questions and space to write, invite the reader into the application process.

For a full decade, three friends and colleagues met four times a year (at the turn of the seasons) to support each other in developing more balanced, rewarding lives. This guide shares the inspiring story of our Balance Days journey.

Even more than a look back, Balance Days offers you a way forward. The guide presents a step-by-step process for launching your own Balance Day triad practice. You and a couple of other friends or colleagues can experience firsthand the powerful impact of support and commitment on your shared journey to more balanced, satisfying lives.

We are women who are professional speakers and who come together with one vision and intention: to provide you with a book filled with the essence of our knowledge, skills and wisdom. This is a book you can use to provide you with new information and approaches to help you with the broad range of work, personal and interpersonal challenges that you face daily in this rapidly moving world. We hope you will find inspiration and direction to assist you in becoming all you can be so you can live your life from the essence of who you really are.